UK Spoilers : 8th January - 12th January

'For She's A Jolly God Fellow'
Monday, January 8 2007 at 17:35 GMT on BBC One

Although Max receives a positive assessment from the psychiatrist, who suggests he should continue his recuperation at home, Steph is still wary of having her husband around – especially after he’s mistaken her for his dead first wife! The doctor attributes this to confusion brought about by his medication and Steph realises she must be more supportive. Unfortunately, this comes too late for Max who has already overheard Steph confessing her doubts to Lyn. Imagining that his family and friends have all now turned against him, Max vents his frustration by violently trashing his hospital room.

Feeling enormous guilt, Elle suggests that being in hospital might be having an adverse effect on Max and thinks he’d have a better chance of recovery at home. Unaware of how deeply involved in the situation she is, no one takes her opinions seriously. After almost confessing to her father, Elle continues to punish herself for her transgression by declining a business/family trip to America with Paul and Lyn.

After receiving an earful from Loris about her relationship with Ned (and serving up some home truths in return), Katya is thrown another curve ball when Carmella confirms that she too has feelings for him. Katya urges Carmella to keep her distance, then attempts to take her relationship with Ned one step further by dressing sexily and tempting him with the prospect of a ‘sinful’ night of passion.

Receiving an encouraging push from Ned and Carmella, Harold gets a mini-makeover to help in his quest to woo Loris. Summoning up all of his courage, he asks Loris on a date and is chuffed when she accepts.

'For Pepper Or Worse'
Tuesday, January 9 2007 at 17:35 GMT on BBC One

Steph and Boyd’s hopes of bringing Max home suffer a blow when Max is sequestered following his violent outburst at the hospital. While Max is relieved at being kept under observation, Steph and Boyd are incensed. They both maintain Max’s condition has worsened since he entered medical care. While they lobby to discharge him, deluded Max tells Elle (who he mistakenly believes to be Steph) that he can’t face going home in his present state, fearing he’s a danger to himself and others. To his mind, there’s only one available option left open to him: disappear.

Ned (with Katya’s help) sets about filling the spare rooms at Number Thirty. After an arduous series of interviews his final picks are: almost too-perfect couple Pepper Steiger and Frazer Yeats; laid-back indie kid Will Griggs; and Carmella’s sister (and young uptight professional) Rosetta Cammeniti. But are any of the new housemates exactly who they appear to be?

Paul, Lyn and Oscar fly off to New York on holiday but Elle opts to stay behind, ostensibly to keep an eye on Lassiter’s. But in truth she’s consumed with guilt over Max’s breakdown and desperately wants to ensure his recovery. Hearing of Max’s deteriorating condition, Elle makes a full confession to the man she’s wronged but it’s too little too late – Max has taken leave of his senses.

'Nuns 'N' Roses'
Wednesday, January 10 2007 at 17:35 GMT on BBC One

Max is officially declared missing and Boyd is overwhelmed with guilt for previously being ashamed of his mentally ill father. Recollection of Max’s last conversations makes Steph suspect her husband was trying to say goodbye. When Max’s effects are found abandoned at a bus stop, it seems Steph’s worst fears are confirmed - Max has deliberately walked out of his life.

The new guys at Number Thirty come to blows when Will wrongly suspects that Frazer is being violent with Pepper. Pepper explains the misunderstanding but things don’t remain peaceful for long. Frazer’s obvious interest in Rosetta makes her uneasy and his ‘engagement’ to Pepper starts to look increasingly suss when Pepper’s over-protective dad shows up with no knowledge that the pair were even going out. Just when it seems the new household is doomed, Pepper saves the day with her endearing version of ‘conflict resolution’.

Old sibling tension flares when Carmella digs too close to the real reason for Rosetta’s move. Carmella proves she has changed by swallowing her pride and making peace, and both girls realise they might be able to be friends for the first time in their lives.

Bree breaks her no-dobbing rule to tell Susan that Zeke wants a tattoo. Susan suspects this means Bree still cares for Zeke, but is Zeke willing to give up his cool new friends to hang out with the girl he loves?

'For Whom The Boyd Tolls'
Thursday, January 11 2007 at 17:35 GMT on BBC One

Driven by an overwhelming sense of fear and guilt, Boyd amps up his campaign to find Max. His strong-arm tactics with a bus driver rock Steph, and she pleads with Boyd to focus his attention more positively. Feeling Steph isn’t pulling her weight, Boyd posts flyers around the area offering a reward for information leading to Max’s return. After Steph gets a distressing prank call, she and Karl try to convince Boyd his efforts are counterproductive. Boyd refuses to listen and his strategy seems vindicated when he receives a promising tip-off. Steph and Boyd rush to meet the contact but they’re deflated when the eyewitness (Bob) appears to be another bogus lead. When Bob produces Max’s wedding ring however, Boyd sees red. Threatening violence, Boyd demands to know what Bob’s done to his father – just how far will Boyd go to get the information.

Will receives a mysterious package containing $10,000 – which he promptly burns.

The budding bonhomie between the housemates at Number Thirty is blitzed when Rosetta’s mother (Lucia) storms in. Lucia employs every trick in the book to make Rosetta see ‘sense’ and go through with her prearranged marriage, going so far as to suggest that no-one else would ever want her. A crushed Rosetta finally relents but Pepper (who’s suffered similar treatment at the hands of her dad) counsels Rosetta to stand up for herself. Can Rosetta are to defy her mother?

Katya’s on Cloud Nine after a naughty night at Lassiter’s with Ned. Her joy evaporates when she learns of Max’s disappearance and her guilt over being the catalyst of Max’s downfall resurfaces. Showing how deeply he cares, Ned’s able to buck up Katya’s flagging spirits, proving their relationship is growing ever more serious.

'The New Fizz Head Teacher'
Friday, January 12 2007 at 17:35 GMT on BBC One

Boyd continues his futile search for Max. Unable to forgive himself for treating his father so badly in the hospital, he projects his anger onto those around him, Steph in particular. With Max’s court case looming, Steph’s troubled by thoughts that Max may have intentionally abandoned her to avoid conviction. In need of support Steph rings Toadie, who flies back from Sydney to offer his help. On arrival he discovers his house taken over. With nowhere to stay, Steph offers him a room at her home.

Will cries poor when Frazer asks to borrow money from him, but is eventually seduced by Frazer into the world of the pro-gambler. Offering to help Janae at Scarletbar, Will scores a job as a fulltime bartender while Pepper’s enlisted onto the Erinsborough High Staff. As Frazer and Pepper continue their ruse as a happy couple, Pepper becomes more attracted to her hot ‘fiancé’ and they submit themselves to Steiger’s third degree.

Eager to resolve her feelings for Ned, Carmella writes him a letter, asking Ned to meet her at Lassiter’s Lake to talk. Devious Katya intercepts it and Carmella is stood up. With Rosetta shedding light on Katya’s deceit Carmella’s furious, vowing to fight fire with fire to get her man.